Mercer hopes to squeeze into SoCon title race

(STATS) - One year after the Southern Conference had four teams qualify for the FCS playoffs for the first time, it seems the title race can't get any more crowded.

But the Mercer Bears are knocking at the front door and feel confident they can step into the mix.

Mercer is only in its fifth season since returning to football, but its program is maturing quite nicely, upsetting Southern Conference co-champion Chattanooga two years ago and going 4-4 in the conference last year. This season, the Bears are even stepping out of conference to face - gulp - Alabama and Auburn.

Not surprisingly, Mercer was ranked fifth behind the four 2016 playoff teams in this year's two SoCon preseason polls (head coach and media) at Tuesday's media day in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Wofford was installed as the preseason favorite followed by two-time defending champion The Citadel, Samford and Chattanooga.

Mercer finished fifth in last year's standings, losing to the four teams above it and beating the four below it.

"From a scholarship standpoint, this will be our first year with four scholarship classes in place. That puts us on a level playing field with everyone else," coach Bobby Lamb said. "We have a lot of guys who have played and have maturity on offense and defense. With those two factors, I think that puts us in the thick of things this year."

Mercer is a solid 27-19 over the last four seasons, including its return in 2013 as a one-year Pioneer Football League member. This year's team brings back 13 starters - seven on offense.

While the Bears are stocked in the skill positions, including Alex Lakes and C.J. Leggett at running back and Marquise Irvin, Avery Ward and Chandler Curtis at wide receiver, they'll have to replace four-year quarterback John Russ - presumably with either Tanner Brumby, a redshirt junior, or Kaelan Riley, a redshirt freshman.

"We're going to miss John Russ a tremendous amount for his leadership, intangibles and ability to play quarterback," Lamb said. "But we're excited about the guys we have on this year's roster at that position and believe we'll have success moving forward.

"Tanner Brumby is a big, physical kid who can also run it when necessary. Kaelan Riley is sneaky athletic; he might not have the quick burst that you want, but he's athletic enough to escape and make plays for us. Both of these young men have had every single rep in spring practice and will get every rep in preseason camp. We're looking forward to naming a starting quarterback the week before the game."

The strength of the defense will be at linebacker, led by seniors Lee Bennett and LeMarkus Bailey, who ranked second and third, respectively, in tackles last season, and pass rusher Will Coneway.

The next step might be the hardest for a relatively young program, but Mercer has an early chance to become a factor in the SoCon race. The Bears will host Wofford on Sept. 9.

Despite Chattanooga's fourth-place prediction in the preseason polls, the Mocs led the conference with nine players on the preseason first and second teams. The Mocs have a new head coach, Tom Arth, following Russ Huesman's departure for Richmond.

Preseason favorite Wofford was second with eight preseason selections, tying Samford for the most first-team picks with five each.

"Being selected No. 1 … that's nice," 30th-year coach Mike Ayers looked at the poll, "but let's wait to the end of November, and then we can start slapping ourselves on the back or kicking ourselves in the pants - whichever one."

The preseason players of the year were Samford junior quarterback Devlin Hodges, also the 2016 SoCon offensive player of the year, and The Citadel senior safety Kailik Williams, who gained the defensive honor.

---=

KEY SOUTHERN CONFERENCE GAMES=

Wofford at The Citadel (Oct. 14) - Last season's two games were memorable - a Citadel road win in overtime during the regular season before Wofford exacted revenge at the SoCon champ in the FCS playoffs.